The new demographic report is the latest in an annual series by the state's judicial system. The Legislature began requiring the report in 2006 as part of a budget bill for additional judges.

A legislative analysis at the time said the provision aimed to "address continuing concerns" about the makeup of the state's judiciary. Advocates have long worried that racial minorities receive unequal treatment in the courts.

Black and Latino residents represented about 41 percent of the state's adult population and 71 percent of the adult prison population last year, according to a January report by the state Legislative Analyst's Office.

Since the courts began reporting the demographic makeup of judges, not much has changed in terms of race and ethnicity. The court system reported about 69 percent of trial judges being white in 2006 and 71 percent in 2012.

In Orange County, home to more than 1 million Latino residents, the racial disparity is especially stark. Out of 114 trial court judges, who are either appointed by the governor or elected to six-year terms, nine judges last year were Latino.

Tom Borris, the Orange County Superior Court's presiding judge, said increasing diversity on the bench continues to be a goal, but it's largely in the hands of the governor. Most of the county's judges were either appointed by the governor or appointed and then re-elected, he said.

"Not only is he trying to put the best people on the bench, he is trying to use diversity," Borris said of the governor. "He is doing a good job trying to take into consideration race and diversity when he makes his appointments."

About one-third of Orange County's judges are up for election every two years, but most seats never appear on the ballot because few incumbent judges face challengers. Borris said campaigns are costly, and the job pays less than private practice.

"We can count on one hand in the past 10 years even how many times a sitting judge has been challenged," Borris said. "Without many people running for seats, it just doesn't happen."

In a press release about the new demographic report, the Administrative Office of the Courts said the diversity of judges is gradually increasing to reflect the richness of California's population and increased diversity remains a key goal.

To read the new report or previous reports, visit courts.ca.gov. If you find something interesting in the documents, please email me.

Keegan Kyle is an investigative reporter at The Orange County Register. He covers public safety and local government issues. What should he write about next?

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